AUDIENCE SCORE

Reversal of Fortune Photos

Movie Info

Barbet Schroeder's fact-based drama stars Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bulow, the infamous New York socialite accused of attempting to kill his wife Sunny (Glenn Close) with an overdose of insulin. (She slipped into a coma instead.) Ron Silver stars as Alan Dershowitz, Von Bulow's defense attorney; it is Dershowitz's book on which the movie is based.

Irons founds his adroit performance, from cadaverous countenance to crooked pinky, on strangled passion and noblesse oblige. And astonishingly, he manages to make old Claus oddly pathetic, even sympathetic.

In his black satire, Kazan and Schroeder go beyond issues of guilt and morality, exposing and contesting the stereotypes of an Odd Couple: Von Bulow as rich, arrogant Eurotrash who needs thw work of a bright, hardworking and sweaty Jewish laywer.

Audience Reviews for Reversal of Fortune

A passable TV drama that fails to focus on one specific genre, and offers a mixture of thriller, mystery & a bit of courtroom drama. The conventional dramatic execution limits its effectiveness. Not having much expectations probably saved me the miseries, and made it a passable fare.
Edit: In retrospect, I feel it'd be justifiable to rate it 3/5 for what it is.

familiar stranger

Super Reviewer

To spite the fact that this is a film based on real information regarding real events and people...this film comes across like one of those ridiculous, late night soap / dramas from the 80's. (Think Dynasty or Dallas).
Everyone comes across as over-the-top caricatures. But who knows...perhaps these are accurate portrayals of the people they are meant to represent?
In any case, it is a horrible and tragic story made all the more painful by these hammy, scenery chewing performances.

Robert C

Super Reviewer

After Fisher Stevens' first scene, Jim said, "This movie is off the hook," and we couldn't even figure out what "off the hook" meant in this case, but it certainly is. From the campy yet seemingly true portrayal of moneyed debauchery, to Glenn Close's beyond-the-coma narration, to Jeremy Irons' deep-voiced, sometimes comical, accent. "Sawhny..." Good performances with a decent commentary on legality versus morality but slightly slow in parts.

Alice Shen

Super Reviewer

"This is the most dangerous case I have ever worked on. --- I am breaking every rule."

Film adaptation of the book "Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case" by Alan Dershowitz, based on a true story.